'One Day There Will Be No Media In India': Mamata Calls Survey On BBC BJP's Political Vendetta

The statement comes a day after the Income Tax authorities conducted a survey operation at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of its investigation into alleged tax evasion.

New Delhi: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee termed the IT surveys at BBC offices “unfortunate” and slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for “running a political vendetta”, news agency ANI reported.

“It's very unfortunate. BJP is running govt with a political vendetta. It's not only affecting the freedom of the press, there will be no media left in the country. Media is already controlled by them. Media can't raise its voice,” CM Mamata Banerjee said.

The statement comes a day after the Income Tax authorities conducted a survey operation at the BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of its investigation into alleged tax evasion.

Notably, the action by the Income Tax Department began at 11 a.m. at BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai. It was a "survey," not a "raid," said officials. The I-T department stated in a statement that the poll was being conducted to explore issues linked to international taxation, transfer pricing of BBC subsidiary firms, and profit diversion. It further noted that BBC had been served with notices in the past but was "defiant and non-compliant".

Meanwhile, the action triggered a political slugfest between BJP and Opposition parties, with Congress branding it "intimidation tactics" and AAP declaring that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reached the "heights of dictatorship". The BJP, on the other hand, launched a ferocious reply, branding the BBC as the "most corrupt" organisation with little regard for India's Constitution.

The Editors Guild of India said it was "deeply concerned" about the surveys and termed it as a continuation of a "trend" of using government agencies to "intimidate and harass" media outlets critical of the ruling establishment.

In a statement, the Guild demanded that "great care and sensitivity be shown in all such investigations so as to not undermine the rights of journalists and media organisations."

"The survey by the I-T department is in continuation of a trend of using government agencies to intimidate and harass press organisations that are critical of government policies or the ruling establishment," the Guild said in a statement.